Contact your Legislators to support SB406!
This week, Senator Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee filed SB406. If passed, this bill will reduce restrictions on APRN practice significantly.
Click here for more information and the press release.
"Lame Duck" Congress to Review Home Health Bill
Congress is returning November 13 for a short post-election “lame duck” session to deal with a long list of critical issues including deficit reduction and pending deep cuts in Medicare payments. Legislation to enable nurse practitioners to authorize Medicare home health services should be part of these negotiations – but it could be overlooked unless we make our voices heard.
What is the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2011?
2012 Election Update
Newly elected members are gearing up for the both the 113
th session of the United States Congress and the 83
rd session of the Texas Legislature. The next session of Congress runs from January 3, 2013 to January 3, 2015. The 140-day regular session of the Texas Legislature convenes January 8 and adjourns May 27, 2013.
There will be many new faces trying to find solutions at both the federal and state level, and CNAP members should make an effort to become acquainted with the new members and their staffs to educate them on CNAP’s legislative priorities. To ensure that you know who represents you in the 83
rd Texas Legislature, refer to
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/. On the CNAP website (
www.cnaptexas.org) there is a summary of the new members elected to the U.S. Congress, the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
DSHS Comprehensive Analysis of Public Behavioral Health System Update:
Recommendations for System Redesign/Rider 71/Final Report
Rider 71 of the General Appropriations Act, 82nd Texas Legislature, directed the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to contract with an independent entity to review the state’s public mental health system. Public Consulting Group (PCG) was selected to complete this comprehensive analysis of the public mental health system.
PCG’s work was completed in two phases. Throughout both phases of their review, PCG reached out to stakeholders across the state to get feedback, local data and information for their analysis. The initial phase of the analysis resulted in a comprehensive report to DSHS in June 2012 on the current state of the public behavioral health system in Texas.
The second phase of PCG’s analysis, which comprises the attached report, focuses on providing recommendations to improve access, services utilization, patient outcomes and system efficiencies. The recommendations include short term and long term options for the behavioral health system.
The phase two report was released on October 12th and is now available at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhsa/mhsa-analysis.aspx.
Future of Nursing Campaign for Nursing
Texas Team Advancing Health through Nursing – an Action Coalition
Status Update Prepared for Texas Team Coalition Members – March 30, 2012
Click here for more information.
Texas Nurse Practitioners Commend Courageous Statements
by Dr. Kenneth I. Shine
(Austin, Texas) – Today, Texas Nurse Practitioners (TNP) President, Sandy McCoy issued the following statement regarding the courageous statement by Dr. Ken Shine during the January 17, 2012 House County Affairs hearing pertaining to the 1115 Medicaid Waiver. Dr Kenneth I. Shine MD, is the Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the University of Texas System. He is responsible for the six UT System health institutions and their aggregate operating budget of almost $7.1 billion:
“Dr. Shine clearly recognizes the skills and abilities of nurse practitioners and the fact that outdated laws and an ongoing turf battle prohibit nurse practitioners from serving as plenary primary care providers. Thank you Dr. Shine for sharing your expert opinions and putting patients first.”
Download the full press release here.
CNAP Legislative Update #17
Coalition for Nurses in Advanced Practice
July 2, 2011
Increase Access to Primary Care Services by allowing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to Prescribe
Both nationally and in Texas, advanced practice registered nurses have helped mitigate the effects of a general practice physician shortage. An advanced practice registered nurse is a registered nurse with an advanced degree, certifi cation and license to practice as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse-midwife, or nurse anesthetist, in some cases with a focus on a defined population.
Although advanced practice registered nurses practice as autonomous or nearly autonomous primary care providers in 20 states and the District of Columbia, Texas limits their ability to establish a medical diagnosis and prescribe medications. The state’s site-based, delegated model of prescriptive authority limits patient access to affordable, quality healthcare providers, particularly in rural and health professional shortage areas. Developing a tiered model for prescriptive authority, in which an advanced practice registered nurse could apply for an autonomous prescriptive authority license after working within a delegated prescriptive authority arrangement for two years, would increase the availability of lower-cost primary healthcare providers.
Click here to download the flyer with full information
Integration of Health and Behavioral Health Work Group
The Health and Human Services Commission established the Integration of Health and Behavioral Health Services Workgroup in September 2009 to recommend best practices in policy, training and service delivery for promotion of healthcare integration as directed in House Bill 2196, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009. H.B. 2196 charged the Workgroup, composed of stakeholders representing a variety of physical health and behavioral health interests, with studying and making recommendations on the integration of health and behavioral health services in Texas. The Workgroup actively studied and deliberated on the merits and barriers to healthcare integration in Texas, and solicited comment during numerous public meetings to obtain additional insight on the legislative charge. Unfortunately, this Workgroup did not have nursing representation. On March 10, 2010, the Workgroup sponsored a conference on Texas-based integrated healthcare systems and services to further its understanding of the breadth and experience of healthcare integration initiatives currently occurring in Texas.
H.B. 2196 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to file a legislative report with the appropriate committees of the Senate and House of Representatives describing the best practices for health and behavioral health integration, barriers to implementing the best practices in this state, and policy considerations for improving integrated service delivery to Texans. Cindy Zolnierek, PhD (c), MSN, RN, Director of Practice for the Texas Nurses Association (also a psychiatric nurse and new member of APNA), attended their final meeting in May and offered comments on behalf of TNA, on their draft report to the legislature, specifically around the role of the APRN (NP and CNS). Fortunately, the Workgroup did incorporate her suggestions regarding recognizing CNSs and nurse practitioners as providers of psychotherapy.
The final report to the 81st Texas Legislature, prepared by the Workgroup, was submitted to the House Committee on Public Health and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on August 1, 2010. The report examines the interconnectivity of physical and behavioral health conditions, the provision of primary care and behavioral health services within a collaborative care context, best practices for healthcare integration, and barriers to healthcare integration. The report further outlines possible strategies for addressing barriers to healthcare integration.
Click here to download the final report of the Integration of Health and Behavioral Health Work Group.
Texas Legislature
Bills By Subject
General Subject Index: Mental Health & Mental Retardation
82nd Legislature Regular Session
Report Date: 2/11/2011
Number of Bills: 22
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HB 35
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Author:
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Menendez
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Last Action:
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02/09/2011 H Referred to Public Health
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Caption:
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Relating to extending a local behavioral health intervention pilot project.
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HB 39
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Author:
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Menendez
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Last Action:
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02/09/2011 H Referred to Public Health
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Caption:
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Relating to a court's authority to order a proposed patient to receive extended outpatient mental health services.
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HB 54
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Author:
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Martinez, "Mando"
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Last Action:
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02/09/2011 H Referred to Public Health
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Caption:
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Relating to the transportation of certain mental health patients.
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HB 166
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Author:
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Raymond
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Last Action:
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11/08/2010 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to the civil liability of an employer or former employer of a mental health services provider who engages in sexual exploitation of a patient or former patient.
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HB 167
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Author:
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Raymond
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Last Action:
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11/08/2010 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to the transportation of certain mental health patients.
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HB 383
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Author:
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Menendez
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Last Action:
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12/06/2010 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to allowing a surrogate decision-maker to consent to certain medical treatments on behalf of an inmate of a correctional facility.
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HB 748
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Author:
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Menendez
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Last Action:
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01/20/2011 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to a criminal defendant's incompetency to stand trial, to certain related time credits, and to the maximum period allowed for restoration of the defendant to competency.
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HB 836
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Author:
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Shelton | Madden
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Last Action:
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01/25/2011 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to certain persons receiving mental health services.
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HB 1128
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Author:
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Menendez
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Last Action:
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02/03/2011 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to consent to certain medical treatments by a surrogate decision-maker on behalf of certain inmates.
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HB 1192
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Author:
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Castro
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Last Action:
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02/08/2011 H Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to the requirement and study of insurance coverage for serious emotional disturbance of a child.
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SB 26
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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Last Action:
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01/31/2011 S Referred to Health & Human Services
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the use of person first respectful language in reference to individuals with disabilities.
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SB 41
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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Last Action:
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02/15/2011 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
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Caption:
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Relating to the use of restraints in state supported living centers.
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SB 43
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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|
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Last Action:
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01/31/2011 S Referred to State Affairs
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the civil liability of an employer or former employer of a mental health services provider who engages in sexual exploitation of a patient or former patient.
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SB 44
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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|
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Last Action:
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02/15/2011 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the detention and transportation of a person with a mental illness.
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SB 47
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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Last Action:
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01/31/2011 S Referred to Health & Human Services
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the pro re nata administration of psychoactive medications in certain residential health care facilities.
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SB 55
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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Last Action:
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02/15/2011 S Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the administration of psychoactive medications to persons receiving services in certain facilities.
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SB 118
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Author:
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Uresti
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Last Action:
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01/31/2011 S Referred to Jurisprudence
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Caption:
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Relating to a court's authority to order a proposed patient to receive extended outpatient mental health services.
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SB 206
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Author:
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Van de Putte
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|
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Last Action:
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01/31/2011 S Referred to Health & Human Services
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to extending a local behavioral health intervention pilot project.
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SB 278
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Author:
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Davis, Wendy
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Last Action:
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01/31/2011 S Referred to Health & Human Services
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities.
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SB 415
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Author:
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Zaffirini
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Last Action:
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02/02/2011 S Referred to Health & Human Services
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to individuals with intellectual disabilities committed to state supported living centers.
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SB 426
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Author:
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Duncan
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Last Action:
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02/02/2011 S Referred to State Affairs
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|
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Caption:
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Relating to the liability of and payment of legal fees for court-appointed trustees of certain facilities.
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SB 574
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Author:
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Van de Putte
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Last Action:
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02/09/2011 S Filed
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Caption:
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Relating to the requirement and study of insurance coverage for serious emotional disturbance of a child.
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